AN ELDERLY grand-mother was beaten up in her home by a thug armed with a baseball bat.

Megan Roberts, 85, was badly bruised in the attack at her house in Prenton.

The thief escaped with money and jewellery given to her by her late husband.

Last night Mrs Roberts, who has two grandchildren, told how she was knocked unconscious and left in a pool of blood.

Her attacker knocked on her front door before demanding cash.

As she told him where her money was kept, he struck her on the forehead with the wooden bat.

He walked towards the living room then turned and hit Mrs Roberts again on the back of the head. The robber fled with £200 and a jewellery box of presents given to her by her late husband.

Mrs Roberts, a retired shop worker, said: "I thought he was going to kill me and I just hoped I would survive.

"There was blood all over the floor when he hit me at first and I could not talk or move.

"Then he came back and I felt the bat crash on to the back of my head and knocked me out.

"I would have given him money as I did not want to die. When he came in after I answered the door I knew he was going to hurt me.

"At first he pushed me up against the wall, but then he got out a wooden bat and I knew that he would not stop at just taking the money. The jewellery was from my husband and is so precious to me - I just want them back.

"The items were built up over the years and no money could ever get them back. There were things belonging to my mother and they have so much sentimental value."

Mrs Roberts' neighbour, Lesley Matthews, visits the frail pensioner every day and made a routine visit just minutes after the attack last Friday at about 4.45pm.

Mrs Roberts needed stitches to her head and doctors say it was astonishing her injuries were not more serious.

She is now back home and said: "I have lived here since 1943 and will live here until my dying day.

"He will not force me out. You cannot let these cowards win."

Merseyside police detective constable Andy O'Connor said: "This was a terrible crime against a vulnerable member of the community.

"Crimes like this are very rare in this area and I would would appeal to members of the public to help police catch the culprit."

He added: "If you are in any doubt about a caller's identity, then call the police."

The attacker is around 5ft 4in, slim build, in his late 20s or early 30s and was wearing dark clothes and a baseball cap.